Paintings With Soul

Above is a little video short made while drinking my tea this morning. Sal was perched on the couch arm, and couldn't figure out if he wanted to watch me, what was going on outside, or take a nap. I quietly waited until he made a decision, then quickly began finding my edges. The whole thing took about 5 minutes (with my ipad, ipencil and procreate). Painting is 1000xs harder if you don't know how to draw. So many decisions made at the easel involve drawing - whether it be with a brush, a piece of chalk or in our heads. In order to create believable form, one has to have a solid understanding of their subject matter. And drawing - from life, every chance I get - is the best way I know to learn. Technology makes this a bit easier with a variety of apps, touch screens and tools. Or one can choose to practice the old fashioned way, with pencil and paper. It doesn't matter the approach - both ways will teach eye hand coordination and practice ...

"Ancient Magic," 7" x 12", acrylics on museum quality panel. $499 plus s&h. The scanned image appears much flatter than the original painting, which features layers of transparent and opaque color, including a generous amount of metallic and mica dense pigment which flash and reflect the light. There is a short video   here   which you can get a stronger sense of the depth to the painting. I accept personal checks, paypal, venmo and payment plans. Inquiries can always come to   me . I'm still lounging about – this sinus bit has been going on for 3 weeks now, and yesterday my stomach started acting up. All in all, it mandated yet another pajama day, which was a huge bummer because I missed out on my critique groups' gathering. Boo hiss. But this afternoon I felt well enough to spend a little time at the easel, toying with an idea I started exploring yesterday, and I had to share the results, they were so pleasing. At least to me. I am ...

A couple of things came to mind today - one followed from a seemingly callous comment of a stranger on my FB page, calling my recent work "garbage." Further conversation with this individual revealed that they felt my work was "too literal." Ok, "too literal" is far more interesting to ponder than "garbage." As I worked my way through the concept of literal, I began to visualize all the ways - other than symbolically - I could depict things like fragility, feeling inconsequential, immortality, and learning to speak up. Today I embraced one of those approaches - allowing my form to dissolve into the ground. Sort of like she's melting - yet she's still fully present for the moment. Two of the studies I approached in this way are pictured above. I have no end result in mind for these - yet - but I am spending time alone with them, asking myself lots of questions, and listening for answers. How does intensity of color impact my ...

"Lionhead," image roughly 6" x 6" on a 9" x 12" foamcore mounted multimedia artboard, ink and acrylics, inspired by The Princess's pet bunny Dorit, $149.  Email me if you would like this rabbit for your own - and thank you so much for your interest! Also, if you are not familiar with Lionhead rabbits, you need to be.  Check them out here and here . And try not to fall in love. Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com 

"Smitty," a painted sketch, roughly 5" x 8" on a 9" x 12" mixed media paper, acrylics, private collection (THANK YOU!). As always, inquires may always come directly  to me .  Got lots more accomplished on The Road to the Kentucky Derby today! Finalizing details with a couple of my galleries (they are throwing Derby shindigs!), working on tasks related to local poster signings and Derby events that I'm a part of, did a little jewelry shopping for Derby day, worked a smidge on my travel itinerary, made appointments for car, hair and nails, and managed to finish two sketches.   Not bad given that Wednesdays are my short days in the studio! Every Wednesday I have a late breakfast with The Caped Crusader before driving him into school, and then just 4 hours later I collect The Princess directly from her school for a volunteer gig. I love that my job allows me to be a hands on Mom.   Thanks, as always, for followi...

You can download the file   directly from my website . I've set up a couple different ways to do this, either via the photo album or a direct link.   I am not an expert on operating systems, so if you don't know how to change your desktop wallpaper, please don't email me - I will indubitably steer you wrong. Your computer's help files will be more concise, more knowledgeable and more responsive than I could ever hope to be.    I've sized this to fit a standard screen height of 768 - I realize there are lots of variables that could impact how the file displays on your screen. Let me know if, once you get the file installed, there are display quality issues (keep in mind, too, that options such as "stretching to fit," "tiling" and "cropping" will impact your display, so check those first!).   Thanks, as always, for following along with my artwork,   Kim

Painted overtop a bad painting (yes, I have lots of them!), "Welcome (Kari and Delta)," 6" x 8", acrylics on panel, depicting a Freelands Gypsy Vanner broodmare with her fresh little filly born last week. Painting was created with the permission of the farm's management from l ive footage  (yes, this is an actual foal being born, so if you are not ready to witness the UNCENSORED miracle of birth, it's simple - don't click on the link!). This piece is available for $329, including s&h within the US. Inquires may come directly to me . Thanks so much in advance! #YourTurnChallenge, #DayThree We are rolling along into our #YourTurnChallenge week. (#YourTurnChallenge is a  Seth Godin  inspired weeklong blog commitment - learn more here ). Today the challenge is to address what can be improved. But as a recovering OCD Perfectionist, I don't think my list can be edited to merely one blog post. So I'm going ...

In Process, "Hidalgo," 16" x 20", acrylics on museum quality panel, commissioned equine portrait of a stunning paint horse, acrylics on a museum quality panel. Ask nicely if you would like one of these portraits starring your pet . View In Process Photos Remember the paintings Luna inspired ? Hidalgo is picking up where they left off, in a gloriously sized way. I swear I can hear him blowing and snuffing around the easel when my back is turned. And he's not even finished yet. I may FINALLY have the pony I've always wanted! Thanks for following along with my artwork, Warmly, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

    "Clarisse," 8" x 10", portrait of a Gypsy Vanner mare, done in acrylics on museum quality panel, $469 to the first asking me nicely . And lots of in process photos are  on Facebook .   Gypsy Vanners are one of my favorite subjects to paint. They are mythical, curvey, packed with glorious color, and move with grace and beauty. And they have the kindest eyes.   So when I somehow came across  Ceo Na Terra Gypsys  one late nite on the computer, I was blown away. I started communicating with Shannon, the owner, and she arranged permission for me to paint a number of her horses (remember, you can't just take imagery you find on the internet and repurpose - you have to get permission first!)   I've been in heaven ever since!!   Wait'll you see  what happened next !!   Thanks for following along with my paintings! Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com